“We think the (Dayton) Arcade would be a great place,” said Sandra, 61, of Lewisburg in Preble County.
That’s not likely to happen, but the Petrys are still crossing their fingers over Issue 3 on the Nov. 3 ballot, which would permit construction of casinos in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Columbus.
“They should have passed it years ago,” said Don, 62.
Hollywood Casino offers a glimpse of what an Ohio casino might be like. Penn National Gaming of Wyomissing, Pa., the casino owner, is one of two principal backers of Issue 3.
With its show business glitter and expansive gambling opportunities, the Hollywood may be the closest thing to Las Vegas east of the Mississippi.
Celebrity look-alike dealers leave the casino floor from Thursday to Sunday to perform on stage as if they’re Michael Jackson, Elvis, Rod Stewart and others.
Hollywood on the Roof, with a circular bar and live performance stage, can show eight football games at once on its screen or just one for Monday Night Football.
“Everything we can do to make it fun...,” said Tony Rodio, the general manager.
About 50 percent of the business comes from the Cincinnati-area — including the Dayton region. If Ohio voters approve Issue 3, Rodio could be competing for that business with a downtown Cincinnati casino.
“I would certainly do whatever I can to hold our market share, (to) differentiate ourselves so that even if there were a casino in downtown Cincinnati, we would be a viable alternative because we’ve created this wonderful interactive, highly-themed experience,” he said.
The Hollywood is one of 10 Indiana casinos located along the state’s borders in what has been a successful effort to lure business from Ohio and other neighboring states.
“Indiana has been one of the better jurisdictions for casinos to operate in,” said Rodio.
The casino is inside Lawrenceburg — population about 4,840 — but really is a city onto itself.
“The fact that the casino resides in a small town in southeastern Indiana doesn’t change dealing with customers and guests whether they come from Philadelphia or New York or whether they come from Cincinnati or Kentucky or Indiana,” said Rodio.
Michael Rozow, president of the chamber of commerce in Dearborn County, which includes Lawrenceburg, said the casino has been a good corporate citizen with tax dollars providing needed local revenue.
“The guys who run the casinos, it isn’t Guido and the boys anymore. These are MIT graduates, who are business people. They know their core business. They are very successful,” said Rozow.
Not everybody in Indiana, however, is in love with the state’s flourishing casino industry.
Lorin Clemenz, a retired United Methodist Minister, until recently served as coordinator of the Indiana Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, which has a mailing list of about 1,500.
The state has become addicted to gambling, said Lorenz. “I think it is an addiction that is going to backfire.”
Back at the Hollywood, visitors from Ohio said they’d be glad to have some of the Hoosier action back in their home state.
“I just like to play the penny slots,” said Robert Van Horn, 62, of Hamilton.
Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@coxohio.com
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